Insect Catching

Insect Catching is a choice hobby unlockable at D.G. Level 5, guided by the enthusiastic mentor Naniwa in the forest area. Armed with a net and sharp reflexes, players hunt 69+ insect species across every region of Heartopia. Each insect has specific time-of-day and weather requirements, creating a puzzle-like challenge where knowledge of spawn conditions is just as important as quick reflexes.

Catching Mechanics

Unlike fishing, where you wait for bites, insect catching is an active pursuit. Insects appear in the overworld and must be approached carefully before swinging your net. Different species require different strategies: some insects are skittish and flee at the slightest movement, while others are stationary and easy to catch. The Inflatable Insect Attractor, purchased from Naniwa, is a special tool that draws the rare Sulkowsky's Morpho to your location, making it the only insect that requires a specific item to encounter.

Quality and Progression

Insect quality follows a star system tied to your skill level rather than luck. Before Level 4, you can only encounter 1 to 3-star specimens. At Level 4 and above, 4-star insects begin appearing, and at Level 6, the highest 5-star quality unlocks. This means skill progression directly gates access to the most valuable catches. A Level 10 Hercules Beetle at 5-star quality represents the pinnacle of insect-catching achievement.

Seasonal events add special insects to the collection. The Winter Frost event introduces five Frostspore butterfly variants with unique icy appearances, while the Bait the Insects event adds six exclusive species including the Chestnut Tiger, Pink Katydid, and Rainbow Stag Beetle. Sell prices range from 30G for common Level 1 butterflies to 515G for the Conehead Mantis (Level 9), making high-level insect catching a viable income source alongside fishing and cooking.